Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old Congolese-Canadian tennis sensation, has made history by winning the Canadian Open championship, her first WTA Tour tournament victory. She achieved this remarkable feat by defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a thrilling comeback match, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Mboko’s journey to the title was nothing short of sensational. She knocked out four Grand Slam champions – Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and finally Osaka – in her path to the championship. Despite struggling in the opening set, Mboko showed remarkable composure to turn the match around, converting eight of her nine break point opportunities.
“It just proves that your dreams are closer than they seem,” Mboko reflected after her victory, still processing the magnitude of what she’d accomplished. When Osaka hit a shot into the net on match point, Mboko dropped to her knees in celebration before rushing to hug her team courtside.
Mboko’s win was made even more impressive by the circumstances surrounding it. She had suffered a wrist injury during her semi-final victory over Elena Rybakina and required medical clearance before the final. Despite the discomfort, she held her nerve and delivered a resilient performance.
“I would have never thought something like this would have come so suddenly,” Mboko said, visibly emotional. “When I had that winning moment and saw so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience.”
The victory sees Mboko jump from 85th to 25th in the world rankings, making her the highest-ranked Canadian player. Her prize money of $752,275 nearly doubled her career earnings in a single afternoon.
Mboko’s achievement has sparked widespread celebration in Canada, with Prime Minister congratulating her on social media and the CN Tower being illuminated in red and white to mark the occasion. Mboko’s coach, Nathalie Tauziat, a former world No. 3, has played a pivotal role in her meteoric rise.